Which place is cheaper, Yaeyama Islands or Lhasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Lhasa or Yaeyama Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Yaeyama Islands? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Lhasa or Yaeyama Islands?
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
Yaeyama Islands
The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.
-
Lhasa Prices
China PricesYaeyama Islands Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $91Yaeyama Islands $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $91, while the average daily cost in Yaeyama Islands is $118. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Lhasa and Yaeyama Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $40Yaeyama Islands $56
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $80Yaeyama Islands $112
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Yaeyama Islands
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Yaeyama Islands? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Yaeyama Islands Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.60Yaeyama Islands $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Yaeyama Islands?
Prices for flights to both Yaeyama Islands and Lhasa change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayLhasa $46Yaeyama Islands $50
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $17Yaeyama Islands $8.93
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
- 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
- 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.01Yaeyama Islands $6.51
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Yaeyama Islands, we can see that Yaeyama Islands is more expensive. And not only is Lhasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lhasa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lhasa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Yaeyama Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yaeyama Islands than you might in Lhasa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lhasa Expensive? and Is Yaeyama Islands Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.